Phase transition, spin-charge separation, and spin filtering in a quantum dot

Abstract

We consider low temperature transport through a lateral quantum dot asymmetrically coupled to two conducting leads, and tuned to the mixed-valence region separating two adjacent Coulomb blockade valleys with spin S=1/2 and S=1 on the dot. We demonstrate that this system exhibits a quantum phase transition driven by the gate voltage. In the vicinity of the transition the spin on the dot is quantized, even though the fluctuations of charge are strong. The spin-charge separation leads to an unusual Fano-like dependence of the conductance on the gate voltage and to an almost perfect spin polarization of the current through the dot in the presence of a magnetic field.